Explaining tragedy

There are evil things everywhere in the world these days but when it hits close to home it seems even more real. The past couple weeks two horrific things happened very close. The first is that a little girl from a neighboring city was kidnapped, abused, and killed. The second was that a teacher in a district that I work for is in prison for having sexual relations with a 13 year old student. I was pulled aside by a fellow teacher today and she asked me if I knew what had happened. I explained that I had heard and was distraught that her picture was posted everywhere because now her four children have to deal with it because of their mother's sick actions. The teacher went on to tell me how it was just so horrible that all parents now have to explain these "acts" to their children (since they hear about it at school) when they should not have to even know about them at such a young age. These kids do not need to know about the sexual things the woman performed on the student. We can't protect our children from hearing about it anymore. Emma heard all about the girl that was kidnapped and killed. The other day, before they found her, I had a talk again with Emma about strangers and how to stay as safe as possible. She knew about the missing girl and was thinking of ways they could solve the mystery to find her (little kid style looking for foot prints and all). Then today when word was released that she was found dead stuffed in a suitcase Emma told me right away as I picked her up from childcare. A classmate had told her all the details and she said they were having a funeral for her. I was surprised how unaffected Emma was because usually these things get her all worked up. Still, this is something I wish I did not have to explain to my soon to be 7 year old. The girl from the tragedy was an adorable young child just a year older than mine. It breaks my heart to think about the violence she endured and my heart goes out to the family. The world is full of twisted people and unfortunately for children of this generation they are going to have to be extra strong to get through. We shouldn't have to explain this stuff to them at such young ages but it has become and necessary fact of life.